Bros (Blu-ray Review)
January 3rd, 2023 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Bros was labeled as the first LGBTQ+ romantic comedy of all time. Major studio backed, maybe, but the label itself was a falsity. In the 90’s, we had a few movies come and go, some surprising, some not and some were from major studios, even if they had straight actors in the roles. What Bros does have working for itself is a largely LGBTQ+ cast, which is rare. Even in the roles that are “straight” there are queer actors in the roles. Save for a few cameos, we are treated to a treasure trove of comic talent, and that for me is what matters most. Read more on Bros below and click the paid link below to score a copy. We may not have gone out in droves to see this film, but maybe we can stay in and enjoy it!
Lots of big splashes were made in the industry this year with Detective Comics releasing its DC vs. Vampires miniseries and Marvel delivering the Judgement Day event. Meanwhile, Aliens and Predator both saw their respective miniseries get launched for the first time not under the Dark Horse label. And speaking of firsts, Batman and Spawn teamed up for the first time in years to put the dark duo back in the hands of fans. But who stole the show as the year’s best?
In good years and “bad” years at the movies, there are still great films gifted upon us. Old faithfuls deliver and new voices step into the light. Small films will climb high and a blockbuster or two will remind people of why something needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible. And in every year, as a film writer, we craft together our Top 10, 20, 30…films of the year. No matter the year, its never an easy task for people who appreciate the art and love and live for the medium. For 2022, culminating a top 10 was aggravating as the cuts to make were pretty deep. There were films I’d love to highlight, but being honest with myself, I have to go with what meant more to me while at the same time not being phony in trying to include what I “should” or exclude something because plenty of other people will have it on their lists and I want to be hip and different just for the sake of trying to stand out. As I say every year, there were plenty of films I still wish I would have been able to get to, but at some point, you have to call “time” and just get to it. With all top 10s, its that person’s film experience for the year. Whether they were able to see 12 films of 200, their top 10 is their top 10. So, let’s get to cracking on my Top 10 Films of 2022! 
A full year of movies in the cinema! Granted, that happened last year too, but it’s great to have normality back in the mix for consecutive years, even if it feels like the cinema is slowly passing away, sadly enough. Nevertheless, the early part of 2022 saw a few films that made the most of a cinematic experience, certainly ones you will see on this list. Marvel dotted the landscape with its expected trio of films this year, streaming services continued their increasing library of solid films, and finally, an old friend from the 90’s showed up to close out a trilogy. One film I did not get to see in time was the James Cameron epic, Avatar: The Way of Water. Then again, I fell asleep in the first one so perhaps that omission isn’t a drastic one. That aside, 2022 gave us plenty of other titles to fill our lists with.
David Gordon Green’s alternate timeline of what comes after John Carpenter’s 1977 Halloween found its conclusion this past fall. The trilogy as a whole found itself a smashing success since 2018, raking in almost half a billion on merely 60 million for all three movies. The final piece, Halloween Ends will be arriving for 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray purchase on December 27th. So you can spend your holiday money on a movie for a different holiday. It features plenty of featurettes, deleted scenes and a commentary with a lot of people involved. You can pre-order it if you want, and hopefully it comes on the release date. And if you’re extra cool, you’ll use the paid Amazon Associates link below.
Kevin Smith’s Clerks series has appeared to be his most personal of the bunch. This third one coming now 16 years after the previous film (12 years between the first two). While Smith opts for a smaller theatrical run via his roadshow and the Fathom Event route, he’s still keen on Blu-ray releases. Clerks III arrived on December 6th. It features a pair of feature length documentaries on it, a commentary and some deleted scenes. As per any Askewniverse property, its loaded, in other words. Order now using the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of this review to get yourself a copy today
2022 is coming to a close as possibly the strongest year for 4K we’ve seen or may yet to see. Many gigantic staples of cinema made their jump this year as well as some regular offenders in the collectibles department. Blu-ray was solid, but this was the first year I noticed a shift and found it hard to scrape up a list. Or, moreso easier to. The 4K list could have been a top 50, but we are going to stick with 10. As I did last year, I’m doing these via videos again. One video is for my favorite standard Blu-ray releases of 2022 and the other my faves in the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray department. As always, thank you for your reads, comments and pre-orders throughout the year. I’m already excited for 2023’s first couple months for 4Ks and am excited as the rest of the year unfolds. Next year I’ll also hit 10 years of writing physical media reviews here at Why So Blu? which feels utterly insane! 
Martin McDonagh’s latest film, The Banshees of Inisherin is probably going to be one of the more pushed and lauded film come awards season this year. There’s plenty of acting and writing accolades to be had from it. Unfortunately it didn’t quite get people out of their homes to go see it at the theater. But now, you can own the film on Blu-ray. Released on December 20th, the film has also been available on HBO Max and digital rental/purchase for a short time already. This one comes with a featurette on making the movie and some deleted scenes to add to the ownership experience. A shame there wasn’t a 4K release, perhaps maybe a Criterion down the road, but can grab yourself a copy if you want by clicking on the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of the review.
Does star power still carry weight these days? The movie theater world is dominated by fast-paced, epic-length superhero fare. Comedies are almost non-existent, and even worse, romantic comedies, once a source of great box office strength, are like the cinematic dinosaur. What’s sad, is that these movies were often enduring, sweet, and easy to revisit. The announcement of Ticket To Paradise led me to an instant smile. Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and an exotic locale? I’m in. With all that said, get deeper into my thoughts on Ticket To Paradise below and if you’re so inclined, there’s a paid Amazon link at the end for you to get yourself a copy!
Something new walks the earth as Dawn of the Dead (Collector’s Edition) releases in a 4K UHD + Blu-Ray™ combo pack this coming January 31, 2022 from Scream Factory. The release features a new 4K transfer of the unrated cut of the film and marks the first time the film will be available in 4K in the U.S. and Canada. Dawn of the Dead (Collector’s Edition) is currently available for pre-order at ShoutFactory.com. Customers ordering from the site will receive an exclusive 18″ X 24″ rolled poster featuring the original theatrical artwork while supplies last.
The Menu was a rock solid horror/satire hit this past fall, playing out against Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The film has a star studded cast headlined by Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes. It’ll be arriving on physical media in the form of a Blu-ray on January 17th. For details of everything that comes with it, have a look at…the menu…
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 61st
Luca Guadagnino’s Venice Film Festival Award winning Bones and All, from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and United Artists Releasing, will be released on Blu-ray on January 31, it was announced today by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Directed by Guadagnino from a screenplay by David Kajganich, the film is based on the novel of the same name by Camille DeAngelis. The film is produced by Luca Guadagnino, Theresa Park, Marco Morabito, David Kajganich, Francesco Melzi d’Eril, Lorenzo Mieli, Gabriele Moratti, Peter Spears, and Timothée Chalamet. Bones and All stars Taylor Russell (Escape Room), Academy Award® nominee Timothée Chalamet (Call me By Your Name), Academy Award® winner Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), André Holland, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jessica Harper, and Academy Award® nominee Chloë Sevigny (Boys Don’t Cry). 
